Sprunk’s story inspires Kiwanis to connect kids with the Griz
9/4/2017 12:41:00 PM | Football
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During the 2016 football season, Montana offensive lineman Cooper Sprunk struck up a pen-pal friendship with a class of third graders at Gerber Elementary School in Northern California farm country.
Through a family contact, Sprunk connected with the class at Gerber as part of the No Excuses University program that pairs universities across the country with elementary school children in economically challenged areas to inspire them to go to college.
After nearly a year of exchanging letters, emails and the occasional Skype session with Keri Spengler's class, Sprunk decided to take his friendship a step further and flew down to Gerber in January to spend a day with kids, face to face.
This year, just as Spengler's new class of third graders is preparing to send their first letters to UM's starting center, Sprunk and Kiwanis Montana representatives are once again hoping to take the friendship a step further in the name of exposing kids to college opportunities beyond the Gerber community.
Sentinel Kiwanis of Missoula, joined by other Kiwanis members around the state and region are attempting to raise $10,000 to take kids from Gerber to this season's nearest Grizzly football game, the September 30 contest at Portland State.
"Cooper exemplifies the mission of Kiwanis," says Michele Wheeler, Lieutenant Governor of the Western Region of Kiwanis Montana. "As I read about him, two things became apparent - first that Cooper has a Kiwanian's heart and second, that these kids need to see him play during his last season at the University of Montana.
"We are partnering with Kiwanis clubs in California and Oregon to prepare the food and provide lodging for the kids. It will be a true Kiwanis family effort. Currently, $3,400 has been donated to make sure these kids see their dream come to fruition," Wheeler added.
In addition to traveling to Oregon to meet Sprunk and his teammates at their first Griz game, this year's fourth grade (Sprunk's pen pals from 2016) and fifth grade classes at Gerber will tour the Nike campus, hosted by Sprunk's father Eric, a Montana alum and Nike executive.
"I cannot wait for the kids to visit my hometown of Portland," said Cooper. "It's going to be awesome to see the kids from last year and meet some new kids and their families as well. I'm very excited for them to experience a college football game. It will be an incredible experience for everyone involved and an amazing weekend with them."
For Spengler, the pen-pal experience with Sprunk has already paid dividends in the classroom, and by taking the kids to see him and the Griz play a world away in Portland could be an experience that will create a lifetime of memories and lessons for her students.
"Cooper is honestly such a role model for them. There are times in class that kids get frustrated or don't want to do something and I'll say to them: 'Grizzlies don't act like that, what do you think Cooper would say right now?' And they'll straighten up and do their work. They totally look up to him," said Spengler.
"This trip would be huge. I said, 'You'll be going all the way to Portland', and they have no idea how far that is. Chico is a long way away for them," she added. "I think just being down on that field and getting to be at that game, seeing all those players and getting to meet Cooper again means everything to them."
A GoFundMe page has been created to help raise the necessary $10,000 for the trip. Tax deductible donations can be sent to Kiwanis Foundation of Montana, PO Box 1171, Troy MT 59935. Or contact Michele Wheeler via the GoFundMe page for more information.
During the 2016 football season, Montana offensive lineman Cooper Sprunk struck up a pen-pal friendship with a class of third graders at Gerber Elementary School in Northern California farm country.
Through a family contact, Sprunk connected with the class at Gerber as part of the No Excuses University program that pairs universities across the country with elementary school children in economically challenged areas to inspire them to go to college.
After nearly a year of exchanging letters, emails and the occasional Skype session with Keri Spengler's class, Sprunk decided to take his friendship a step further and flew down to Gerber in January to spend a day with kids, face to face.
This year, just as Spengler's new class of third graders is preparing to send their first letters to UM's starting center, Sprunk and Kiwanis Montana representatives are once again hoping to take the friendship a step further in the name of exposing kids to college opportunities beyond the Gerber community.
Sentinel Kiwanis of Missoula, joined by other Kiwanis members around the state and region are attempting to raise $10,000 to take kids from Gerber to this season's nearest Grizzly football game, the September 30 contest at Portland State.
"Cooper exemplifies the mission of Kiwanis," says Michele Wheeler, Lieutenant Governor of the Western Region of Kiwanis Montana. "As I read about him, two things became apparent - first that Cooper has a Kiwanian's heart and second, that these kids need to see him play during his last season at the University of Montana.
"We are partnering with Kiwanis clubs in California and Oregon to prepare the food and provide lodging for the kids. It will be a true Kiwanis family effort. Currently, $3,400 has been donated to make sure these kids see their dream come to fruition," Wheeler added.
In addition to traveling to Oregon to meet Sprunk and his teammates at their first Griz game, this year's fourth grade (Sprunk's pen pals from 2016) and fifth grade classes at Gerber will tour the Nike campus, hosted by Sprunk's father Eric, a Montana alum and Nike executive.
"I cannot wait for the kids to visit my hometown of Portland," said Cooper. "It's going to be awesome to see the kids from last year and meet some new kids and their families as well. I'm very excited for them to experience a college football game. It will be an incredible experience for everyone involved and an amazing weekend with them."
For Spengler, the pen-pal experience with Sprunk has already paid dividends in the classroom, and by taking the kids to see him and the Griz play a world away in Portland could be an experience that will create a lifetime of memories and lessons for her students.
"Cooper is honestly such a role model for them. There are times in class that kids get frustrated or don't want to do something and I'll say to them: 'Grizzlies don't act like that, what do you think Cooper would say right now?' And they'll straighten up and do their work. They totally look up to him," said Spengler.
"This trip would be huge. I said, 'You'll be going all the way to Portland', and they have no idea how far that is. Chico is a long way away for them," she added. "I think just being down on that field and getting to be at that game, seeing all those players and getting to meet Cooper again means everything to them."
A GoFundMe page has been created to help raise the necessary $10,000 for the trip. Tax deductible donations can be sent to Kiwanis Foundation of Montana, PO Box 1171, Troy MT 59935. Or contact Michele Wheeler via the GoFundMe page for more information.
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